Marteen Fire Update
Incident: Marteen Wildland Fire Used for Resource Benefit
Released: 8/13/2008
Fire personnel responded to a new lightning started fire on the Kaibab National Forest Thursday, August 7. The Marteen Fire is located 15 miles northeast of Williams near Red Hill. It remained around one acre until Tuesday when activity increased under warm and dry conditions.
Personnel mapped the fire perimeter at 20 acres Tuesday. The fire grew moderately in all directions throughout the afternoon. Managers anticipate the fire has grown to approximately 50 acres.
Over the past several weeks on the forest, many lightning started fires have been quickly suppressed because of their close proximity to town, private property and/or developed recreation areas. In contrast, the Marteen Fire was not immediately suppressed. Instead, forest officials initially monitored the fire and evaluated its potential to be managed for resource benefits.
The Kaibab National Forest is participating in a pilot program this season that allows fire managers a full range of management options on naturally ignited fires on federal lands. About 30 sites are testing some proposed modifications to the Federal Wildland Fire Management Policy.
When the Marteen Fire started, forest officials assessed possible growth given the current weather conditions, time of season, terrain and fuels. They also considered the fire's location relative to a previous prescribed burn area that will help prevent rapid fire spread.
On Tuesday, managers determined it was appropriate for this fire to play its natural role in the ecosystem and shifted to a Wildland Fire Use (WFU) strategy under the authority of the pilot program. Documentation supporting this decision was sent to the Regional Office in Albuquerque for final approval.
Today, personnel on the Marteen WFU are assessing areas that made need protection in advance of the fire, observing fire behavior, monitoring weather and mapping fire growth. Additional personnel have been ordered. Throughout the day, information about smoke and changing weather conditions is provided to personnel on the ground by the Kendrick Mountain Lookout.
Two additional fires on the forest are being managed similarly to the Marteen Fire. The Oak Wildland Fire Use, 10 miles south of Williams is 473 acres and the Newt Wildland Fire Use, 13 miles east of Tusayan is 450 acres. These fires have shown no growth for more than a week. However, fire officials anticipate further growth during periods when weather conditions become warmer and drier.
For additional information, please contact Punky Moore, Fire Information Officer, (928-635-5653).
